On 2 Mar 2007 at 14:29, R.Haighton wrote:
> Emily,
> As I rapidly approach my next decade, I am not sure that an active
> participation in SL is where I want to go,
> However that said I will be investigating SL over the next few weeks and who
> knows what the result may be.
Additional thoughts!
Second Life (abbreviated to SL) is an Internet-based virtual world which came
to international attention via mainstream news media in late 2006 and early
2007. Developed by Linden Lab, a downloadable client program enables its users,
called "Residents", to interact with each other through motional avatars,
providing an advanced level of a social network service combined with general
aspects of a metaverse. Residents can explore, meet other Residents, socialize,
participate in individual and group activities, and buy items (virtual
property) and services from one another.
Second Life is one of several virtual worlds that have been inspired by the
cyberpunk literary movement, and particularly by Neal Stephenson's novel Snow
Crash. The stated goal of Linden Lab is to create a world like the Metaverse
described by Stephenson, a user-defined world of general use in which people
can interact, play, do business, and otherwise communicate. Second Life's
virtual currency is the Linden Dollar (Linden, or L$) and is exchangeable for
US Dollars in a marketplace consisting of residents, Linden Lab and real life
companies.
While Second Life is sometimes referred to as a game, it does not have points,
scores, winners or losers, levels, an end-strategy, or most of the other
characteristics of games. In all, over four million accounts have been
registered, though many are not active, and some Residents have multiple
accounts. Despite its prominence, Second Life has notable competitors,
including Active Worlds, There, and newcomers such as Entropia Universe,
Dotsoul Cyberpark and Red Light Center.
Issues and criticisms
Second Life issues and criticisms
Because it is under constant development, and is an open environment that can
be used by almost anyone with internet access, Second Life has encountered a
number of challenges. These range from the technical (Budgeting of server
resources) and "moral" (pornography) to legal (legal position of the Linden
Dollar, Linden Lab lawsuit).
Prior to June 6, 2006, all Residents were required to verify their identities
by providing Linden Lab with a valid credit card or PayPal account number, or
by responding to a cell phone SMS text message. Residents providing information
were not charged if their account type cost nothing to create.) After that
date, it became possible to create an account with only an e-mail address; even
standard verification methods such as e-mail reply verification are not used.
Access to Teen Second Life (the parallel world for 13-17 year olds) still
requires credit card details. Linden Lab has the ability to ban Residents from
Second Life based on a hardware hash of their local PC, preventing them from
returning with other accounts.
In January 2007, two articles were published on the Internet which compared the
economy of Second Life to a pyramid scheme. In the same month, a "virtual riot"
erupted between members of the French National Front who had established a
virtual HQ on Second Life, and opponents, including Second Life Left Unity, a
socialist and anti-capitalist user-group.Since then, several small internet
based organizations have claimed some responsibility for instigating the riots.
Parody
Second Life is parodied by the website "Get a First Life" by Darren Barefoot.
Instead of sending the site creator a cease and desist letter, Linden Lab sent
him a humorous "Permit-and-Proceed" letter.
>From my point of view it is another way to going out the reality without having
to take drugs and pills or going in alcoholism. Some are using this tool the
right way some other not it depends of your own minding and what you are
looking for!
It is the new "chat system" a pale copy of the various science fiction "Hollow
deck" rooms.
A further step towards the virtual unreality...
Locutus Beaumont :)
"-"
"It is not the class of license the amateur holds, but the class of the amateur
that holds the license."
Luc Leblanc VE2DWE
Skype VE2DWE
www.qsl.net/ve2dwe
WAC BASIC CW PHONE SATELLITE